During an interview Thursday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Johnson was asked what he would do about Aleppo. Johnson initially said “What is Aleppo?” then offered an answer when reminded it’s Syria’s largest city.

Weld, speaking at Emerson College in Boston Thursday, brushed aside criticism, saying the two have been talking about Syria on the campaign trail.

He said “in terms of Gary forgetting the word, I don’t know. I think that can happen to anybody.” Weld said Johnson thought he was being asked about an acronym.

“I didn’t think it was that bad,” he said. Weld says this slip up is not as bad as when Gov. George W. Bush could not name the leaders of India, Pakistan and Chechnya in a televised debate in 1999.

The former Republican Massachusetts governor said he remains hopeful Johnson will be allowed on the debate stage alongside Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

“I don’t think it has any impact on the debates except perhaps to increase our name recognition,” Weld said.